Georgia Tech subscribes to the basic ethical principles that underlie the conduct of biomedical and behavioral research involving human subjects as set forth in the Belmont Report, the timeless statement of ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects published in 1979 by the National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research.

The three Georgia Tech Institutional Review Boards are charged with protecting the rights and welfare of human subjects participating in research projects conducted by Georgia Tech faculty, staff, or students. These include the Central IRB, the Joint Georgia State University-Georgia Tech IRB for the Advanced Brain Imaging Center, and the Classified IRB. The IRBs have the responsibility and authority to review, approve, disapprove, or require changes in research activities involving human subjects. All proposed research activities involving human subjects, regardless of source of funding or study location, must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate Georgia Tech Institutional Review Board (IRB) prior to initiation of research. The IRBs hold regularly scheduled meetings to review research protocols involving human subjects.

Georgia Tech's Federalwide Assurance is approved by the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Institutional Review Boards are registered with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Human Research Protections.

Committee members are appointed by the Vice President for Research, who also serves as the Institutional Official for matters related to human subjects. Membership is structured in accordance with federal requirements set forth in Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations Part 46, Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects including Subparts A, B, C, and D, and in Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 50, 56, 312, and 812.

For more information about the Institutional Review Board, please see the Institutional Review Boards website.